1 . This could be Micah Fitz, first spring without football practices. The 14-year-old has been playing since he was 3, but because he’s home-schooled, he can’t try out for the local team at Patriot High School in Prince William County, Virginia.
“I can’t play this half of the year and my friends are going to be playing five or six times a week,” he said. “They’re going to be getting better and stronger playing with kids that are good.”
Micah and his family---along with many other home-schooling families across Virginia---are hoping the Virginia General Assemble will approve a bill this year that would allow kids like him to try out for sports on public school athletic teams. The bill, called the “Tebow bill”, is named after football player Tim Tebow, who was home-schooled but was allowed to play on a high school team before going to the University of Florida, where he led his team to two national championships.
Many major statewide education organizations said the bill wouldn’t be fair to public school students. Ken Tilley, the executive director of the Virginia High School League, said the bill would violate two of the league’s most long-standing standards for qualification: enrollment (注册入学) and academic standing.
Home-school advocates argue that they are required by the law to document academic progress. But many opponents say students always have the option of attending public high school. That might be what Sydney Bowman, a 12-year-old from Luchetts, will do to keep wrestling, although she would prefer to continue to be taught at home. In her case, girls’ wrestling teams are rare enough that there aren’t many options other than public school.
But Micah’ mom, Terri Fits, a former public school teacher, said that although they support the local schools and love to cheer on the teams, they like the flexibility of home-schooling.
1. What kind of feeling is expressed in Paragraph 2?| A．Sympathy. | B．Disappointment. |
| C．Embarrassment. | D．Satisfaction. |
| A．home-schoolers will be able to compete in public school sport events |
| B．public high schools will accept home-schooled students |
| C．home-schoolers will have to reach higher academic standards |
| D．children will have the right to be taught at home |
| A．He doubted it. | B．He was against it. |
| C．He was curious about it. | D．He paid little attention to it. |
| A．give up team sports | B．stop taking part in wrestling |
| C．go to a public high school | D．report her academic progress |
Beijing's Forbidden City is a place full
3 . A gentle breeze blew through Jennifer’s hair. The golden red sun was
The atmosphere
It was really getting dark now. The sun had set a few minutes before and it was getting cold, too. She
She entered the house. First, she went into the kitchen where she saw a
I went looking. Ellen was her mother but—where was she? She entered her parent’s home. Then she saw her. Her mother, lying on the bed,
It felt so good being back home.
| A．disappearing | B．setting | C．rising | D．shining |
| A．amazed | B．excited | C．disappointed | D．frightened |
| A．music | B．waves | C．wind | D．streams |
| A．surprised | B．confused | C．relaxed | D．exhausted |
| A．early | B．cold | C．warm | D．late |
| A．teachers | B．friends | C．brothers | D．parents |
| A．blame | B．enjoy | C．react | D．cry |
| A．ill | B．missing | C．travelling | D．sad |
| A．pointing | B．enjoying | C．directing | D．teaching |
| A．easily | B．silently | C．happily | D．willingly |
| A．believed | B．wished | C．guessed | D．judged |
| A．with | B．for | C．at | D．in |
| A．same | B．familiar | C．difficult | D．different |
| A．crowded | B．tidy | C．deserted | D．clean |
| A．text | B．note | C．letter | D．sentence |
| A．ready | B．gone | C．present | D．available |
| A．cried | B．laughed | C．coughed | D．slept |
| A．chair | B．room | C．bed | D．study |
| A．Fortunately | B．Similarly | C．Suddenly | D．Constantly |
| A．moved | B．lost | C．inspired | D．scared |
4 . Liverpool, my hometown, is a special city. It is so unique that in 2004 it became a World Heritage（遗产）Site.
I recently returned to my home city and my first stop was at a museum on the River Mersey. Blanketed in mist（薄雾），Victorian architecture rose from the banks of the river, responded to the sounds of sea-birds, and appeared unbelievably charming. When I headed toward the centre, I found myself surrounded by buildings that mirror the best palaces of Europe. It is not hard to imagine why, on first seeing the city, most visitors would be overpowered by the beauty of the noble buildings, which are solid signs of Liverpool’s history.
As if to stress its cultural role, Liverpool has more museums and galleries than most cities in Britain. At Walker Art Gallery, I was told that it has the best collections of Victorian paintings in the world, and is the home of modern art in the north of England. However, culture is more than galleries. Liverpool offers many music events. As Britain’s No. 1 music city, it has the biggest city music festival in Europe, and its musicians are famous all over the world. Liverpool is also well-known for its football and other sports events. Every year, the Mersey River Festival attracts thousands of visitors, making the city a place of wonder.
As you would expect from such a city, there are restaurants serving food from around the world. When my trip was about to complete, I chose to rest my legs in Liverpool’s famous Philharmonic pub（酒馆）. It is a monument to perfection, and a heritage attraction itself.
Being a World Heritage Site, my home city is certainly a place of “outstanding universal value”. It is a treasure house with plenty of secrets for the world to explore.
1. Visitors who see the city for the first time would be deeply impressed by__________.| A．its charming banks | B．its famous museums |
| C．its wonderful palaces | D．its attractive buildings |
| A．it has the best collections of Victorian paintings |
| B．it has museums, galleries, music festival and sports events |
| C．the Mersey River Festival attracts thousands of visitors |
| D．the best palaces of Europe are in Liverpool |
| A．Liverpool is a well-known city for its restaurants |
| B．Liverpool is an impressive place full of attraction |
| C．a pub is a wonderful place for visitors to relax themselves |
| D．a pub is a perfect choice for visitors to complete their journey |
5 . Terrafugia Inc. said Monday that its new flying car has completed its first flight, bringing the company closer to its goal of selling the flying car within the next year. The vehicle —named the Transition – has two seats, four wheels and wings that fold up so it can be driven like a car. The Transition, which flew at 1,400 feet for eight minutes last month, can reach around 70 miles per hour on the road and 115 in the air. It flies using a 23-gallon tank of gas and burns 5 gallons per hour in the air. On the ground, it gets 35 miles per gallon.
Around 100 people have already put down a $10,000 deposit to get a Transition when they go on sale, and those numbers will likely rise after Terrafugia introduces the Transition to the public later this week at the New York Auto Show. But don’t expect it to show up in too many driveways. It’s expected to cost $279,000.And it won’t help if you’re stuck in traffic. The car needs a runway.
Inventors have been trying to make flying cars since the 1930s, according to Robert Mann, an airline industry expert. But Mann thinks Terrafugia has come closer than anyone to making the flying car a reality. The government has already permitted the company to use special materials to make it easier for the vehicle to fly. The Transition is now going through crash tests to make sure it meets federal safety standards.
Mann said Terrafugia was helped by the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision five years ago to create a separate set of standards for light sport aircraft, which are lower than those for pilots of larger planes. Terrafugia says an owner would need to pass a test and complete 20 hours of flying time to be able to fly the Transition, a requirement pilots would find relatively easy to meet.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．The basic data of the Transition. |
| B．The advantages of flying cars. |
| C．The potential market for flying cars. |
| D．The designers of the Transition. |
| A．It causers traffic jams. |
| B．It is difficult to operate. |
| C．It is very expensive. |
| D．It burns too much fuel. |
| A．Cautious | B．Favorable. |
| C．Ambiguous. | D．Disapproving. |
| A．Flying Car at Auto Show |
| B．The Transition’s First Flight |
| C．Pilots’ Dream Coming True |
| D．Flying Car Closer to Reality |
6 . Are you having trouble concentrating when you’re reading a book or listening to a lecture? This list of activities might help to improve your study habits.
Make a List. We often have trouble paying attention to one thing because our brain wants to think about something else.
Sleep More. Studies show that people who sleep fewer than eight hours a night for a period of time have slower response systems and more difficulty recalling information.
Eat Healthier Foods. Many people enjoy foods high in fats and sugars.
Reduce Screen Time. This may be the most unpopular suggestion among young people. Screen time --- or time spent looking at cell phones, televisions, computer screens, has a clear effect on the attention span.
| A．Be active. |
| B．Practice more. |
| C．These foods can provide enough energy for focusing. |
| D．But these foods can’t be helpful enough when it comes to focusing. |
| E．That is bad news for teens who stay up studying the night before a test. |
| F．Researchers advise parents to limit it when their children need to be focused. |
| G．By writing down all the things you need to do, you’ll gain a sense of control. |
7 . Thirteen can be a challenging age. Not only did I have to adapt to my changing body, I also had to deal with my parents’ bitter divorce, a new family and the upsetting move from my country home to a crowed town.
When we moved, my beloved companion (伙伴), a small brown horse, had to be sold. I was heartbroken and terribly lonely. I couldn’t eat or sleep and cried all the time. Finally, realizing how much I missed my horse, my father bought me another horse, Cowboy.
Cowboy was without doubt the ugliest horse in the world. But I didn’t care. I love him beyond all reasons.
I joined a riding club. When Cowboy and I entered the events where the horse was judged by the appearance, we were quickly “shown the gate”. I knew nothing could turn Cowboy into a beauty. My only chance to compete would be in the timed speed events. I chose the jumping race.
For the whole next month we practiced running and jumping for hours in the hot sun and then I would walk Cowboy home, totally exhausted.
All of our hard work didn’t make me feel confident by the time the show came. One girl named Becky rode a big brown horse in the race events. She always won the blue ribbons (丝带). I sat at the gate and sweated all out while I watched Becky and her horse charge through the court and finish in first place.
My turn finally came. At the signal, we dashed (猛冲) towards the first fence, jumped over it without trouble and raced on to the next one. Cowboy then flew over the second, third and fourth fences like a bird and I turned him towards the finish line.
No cheers filled the air. The end of our run was met with surprised silence. Cowboy and I had beaten Becky and her fancy horse by two seconds.
I gained much more than a blue ribbon that day. At thirteen, I realized that no matter what the chances would be, I’d always be a winner if I wanted something badly enough and worked for it. I can be the owner of my fate.
1. What does the underlined word probably mean in Para. 1?
| A．Exciting. | B．Unforgettable. |
| C．Delightful. | D．Frustrating. |
| A．Because she loved horses more than anything else. |
| B．Because Cowboy was a strong and smart young horse. |
| C．Because Cowboy had a lot in common with her horse. |
| D．Because she was sad and lonely and needed a companion. |
| A．they didn’t expect Cowboy would win the event. |
| B．they were unhappy that Becky was beaten in the event. |
| C．they didn’t like Cowboy, for it was too ugly. |
| D．they never saw a horse running as fast as Cowboy. |
| A．she ought gather the courage to solve all the problems. |
| B．it was time to forget her horse and treat Cowboy better. |
| C．she needed to work harder to win more blue ribbons. |
| D．she could be the god of her own fate if she tried hard enough. |
8 . The sharing economy, represented by companies like Airbnb or Uber, is the latest fashion craze. But many supporters have overlooked the reality that this new business model is largely based on escaping regulations and breaking the law.
Airbnb is an internet-based service that allows people to rent out spare rooms to strangers for short stays. Uber is an internet taxi service that allows thousands of people to answer ride requests with their own cars. There are hundreds of other such services.
The good thing about the sharing economy is that it promotes the use of underused resources. Millions of people have houses or apartments with empty rooms, and Airbnb allows them to profit from these rooms while allowing guests a place to stay at prices that are often far less than those charged by hotels. Uber offers prices that are competitive with standard taxi prices and their drivers are often much quicker and more trustworthy.
But the downside of the sharing economy has gotten much less attention. Most cities and states both tax and regulate hotels, and the tourists who stay in hotels are usually an important source of tax income. But many of Airhnb’s customers are not paying the taxes required under the law.
Airbnb can also raise issues of safety for its customers and I trouble for hosts' neighbors. Hotels are regularly inspected(检查) to ensure that they are not fire traps and that they don't form other risks for visitors. Airbnb hosts face no such inspections.
Since Airbnb is allowing people to escape taxes and regulations, the company is simply promoting thefts. Others in the economy will lose by bearing an additional tax burden or being forced to live next to an apartment unit with a never-ending series of noisy visitors.
The same story may apply with Uber. Uber is currently in disputes over whether its cars meet the safety and insurance requirements imposed on standard taxis. Also, if Uber and related services flood the market, they could harm all taxi drivers' ability to earn a minimum wage.
This downside of the sharing needs to be taken seriously, but that doesn't mean the current tax and regulatory structure is perfect.
1. What is the positive thing about the sharing economy?| A．It makes use of spare resources. |
| B．It is beyond regulations. |
| C．It is a global trend. |
| D．It brings in modest profits. |
| A．They are not regularly inspected. |
| B．They may disturb hosts’ neighbours. |
| C．They are not allowed to escape taxes. |
| D．They are likely to commit thefts. |
| A．Whether it lowers customers' expenses. |
| B．Whether it provides reliable services. |
| C．Whether it guarantees customers' safety. |
| D．Whether it can compete with standard taxis. |
| A．Existing regulations and laws. |
| B．Necessary improvements of current laws. |
| C．Further development of Airbnb and Uber. |
| D．More downsides of Airbnb and Uber. |
9 . If you read a newspaper or listen to a newscast recently, you may hear or read a strange word, “staycation”. Staycation is
According to many news reports, these staycations are very popular among American families this year. Why? The high price of gasoline for cars and airplanes has made it very costly for Americans to travel
Everything is increasingly
10 . When I talked to some businessmen earlier today, one fellow asked me, “Would you give money to a homeless person, even when you know he’s going to use it to buy alcohol?” I replied, “If all I was giving was money, it’ll be one thing. But for me, whenever I do give money, that’s just the wrapping (包装纸) . The real gift is hidden inside—it’s love. And I haven’t ever found any reason to limit gifts of love.”
By the end of the night, I decided to get some pizza. In front of me in line was a homeless-looking man. He was counting the few dollars bills in his hand, over and over again, until it was his turn to order. Just then, he told the young woman behind the counter, “I’ll have the full cheese pizza.” “Full?” she asked. “It’s really big,” she added, although what she really meant to say was that it’d be too expensive for him. “Yeah, the full” “$18.65,” she submitted. The bills he was counting weren’t going to make it. I wasn’t intending to get the whole pizza for him. But thinking back to my conversation with the business man, I realized that money was really just the wrapping.
I made my move. “Can you charge that pizza with my order” I said to the cashier. “Really?” the homeless-looking man said. “Really?” the young woman behind the counter repeated. “Yes, really.” That confused man and I had a sweet silent moment. To his silent question of why I was doing it, I added, “Just pay it forward for someone else.” And he said, “Well, you know what? I was actually treating these five homeless guys out there.” He was actually paying it forward, in the first place. What an unexpected fortune to get a chance to be a part of a man’s act of kindness.
1. What can we learn about the author from the first paragraph?| A．He believes it’s not money but love that matters. |
| B．He is mean with his money. |
| C．He cares little about money. |
| D．He seldom gives money to the poor. |
| A．The request from the homeless-looking man. |
| B．His sympathy for the homeless-looking man. |
| C．His recalling the talk with the businessman earlier that day. |
| D．The urgency from the young woman behind the counter. |
| A．Because he was too hungry. |
| B．Because he wanted to pay it forward. |
| C．Because he wanted to treat his own five children. |
| D．Because he wanted to help some homeless people. |
| A．Paying it forward | B．Helping a homeless man |
| C．A talk with a businessman | D．Money was just the wrapping |
